28. Homecoming

"There you go, the list with the names of our new prefects and Head Girl and Boy, as discussed. That's all for now, I think..." Armando said distractedly as he handed over the scroll of parchment.

Albus knew that he was in a hurry to leave for a trip to Boston he had been meaning to take, which included a meeting with the headmaster of Ilvermony. He was about to tell Armando to just go and leave the rest to him – he was fairly confident that he could handle an empty castle – when there was a knock on the window from an owl.

"I swear they know when I'm running late." With a sigh, Armando waved his wand to open the window and allowed the owl to deliver its letter.

"I'll leave you to it then," Albus said, because when it came to getting too much mail, he wasn't much help to anyone.

"Albus, hold up!" Armando stopped him in his tracks. "This should be of interest to you, too. It's from a former student of yours."

Albus paused with his hand on the doorknob. "You'll have to be more specific, I'm afraid."

"It's from Minerva McGonagall. You remember her, don't you?" Armando gave him a funny look.

It was a purely rhetorical question so Albus saw no reason to answer. Of course he remembered Minerva and he had to admit to being curious as to why she was writing to the headmaster. Horace had got a letter from her once, and he had lorded it over Albus for a week. It had been very annoying, though Albus knew that Horace had practically blackmailed Minerva into writing him. "What does it say?" he asked, turning around and resting his hands on the back of one of the chairs in front of the headmaster's desk.

Armando was skimming the letter. "Merlin's Beard, she's asking if I would consider her for a teaching post at Hogwarts." He lowered the scroll of parchment and looked up. "Did you know that she was interested in teaching?"

"She never spoke of it to me," Albus replied vaguely. There had been ample signs of her aptitude. But since she had set her sights on a more influential career path, he had never mentioned that to her. Also, it had felt selfish somehow.

"Well, you have been complaining about the workload of being Deputy Headmaster as well as the Head of the Transfiguration Department and Gryffindor House..." Armando mused. "Might be time to get you some help."

Albus arched an eyebrow. "I wouldn't say that I've been 'complaining.'"

"Fine, if you don't want any help, I can give her another post. She didn't specify Transfiguration. I could give her... Care of Magical Creatures. Make her try to rein in Silvanus. I had to put him on probation again..." Armando heaved a massive sigh.

"I'm not sure a post as a Care of Magical Creatures Professor would be particularly appropriate since she never actually took that subject," Albus pointed out.

"Right. Oh, well, it's not as if Silvanus' methods are appropriate. I'm sure she'd do fine." Armando chuckled. It was a headmaster's gallows humour, Albus supposed. "Why would she want to leave the Ministry, though?" Armando continued more seriously. "What's it been? Two years? Didn't I just read something about her being involved in the capture of Eion Northcroft?"

"I believe she was the one who captured him, yes," Albus said. He hadn't kept tabs on her exactly, but his colleagues at the Wizengamot had talked about it and so every now and then Minerva's name had come up.

Armando nodded. "That's what I thought. Then why in the name of Merlin would she quit that to become a teacher?"

"You do realise that you and I also chose to teach?" Albus countered, feeling perhaps a little affronted.

"Of course, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that things at the Ministry are clearing going great for her right now," Armando explained.

"Perhaps not so clearly as she doesn't seem to think so." Albus couldn't say that he was as surprised as Armando, curious maybe, but not surprised. He could think of a million reasons why Minerva didn't want to continue working at the Ministry. He hadn't hoped that this would happen, but he had thought it might. If she had made the choice to turn away from everything the Ministry could potentially offer her, Albus took that to mean that she had decided to stay true to herself. Or true to the person he had known her to be. He had to remind himself that she was no longer the young girl he had once taught.

Armando seemed to think differently. "It's strange, though, isn't it? As if she's derailing her political career on purpose."

"I think she only asked you to decide if she has the necessary qualifications to come and teach at this school, not to judge her choices," Albus replied coolly.

"So you do want her," Armando said, looking smug.

Albus decided to overlook his poor choice of words and to stick to what was pertinent. "I do believe the students would benefit greatly from being taught by someone with her level of skill and passion."

"That's all I needed to hear." Smiling, Armando reached for a quill and a piece of parchment. "Then it looks as though our Transfiguration Department will have a new teacher this year."

"Dear Ms McGonagall,

Thank you for your letter and your interest in a teaching post at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I am pleased to offer you a position as Assistant Professor in our Transfiguration Department under Head of Department Professor Albus Dumbledore.

We ask that you arrive at the school by no later than a week before the start of term. Please let us know if you would like to take up living quarters in the castle.

If you have any further questions or inquiries, sent an owl directly to Professor Dumbledore as I will be out of the country for the summer. If not, I look forward to welcoming you back at Hogwarts for the new school year.

Yours sincerely,

Armando Dippet

Headmaster

Minerva stood in front of the closed gates of the Hogwarts grounds, gazing up at the castle. She had been unable to come to Robert's graduation because she had been in St Mungo's after a stupid accident at work. So she hadn't been back since the day she had left after her own graduation. Now that she was here, it felt as if she simply hadn't realised how much she had missed it.

A familiar large man came jogging towards the gate, becoming increasingly larger the closer he got. "Sorry, sorry, didn't mean ter keep yeh waitin'," Hagrid called when he was close enough to open the gates.

"No matter. It gave me a chance to take it all in," Minerva replied.

Hagrid followed her gaze and looked towards the castle as it gleamed in the afternoon sun. "It's a beauty, ain't it?"

"It truly is," Minerva agreed wholeheartedly. "But I'm being expected up there, so I should stop standing here just to look at it."

"'Course, yer are. Let me help yeh with tha'," Hagrid said and reached for her luggage.

"Oh, no, there's no need..." Minerva could have easily used magic to get that up to the castle, but Hagrid seemed happy to carry it for her.

"'s no bother," he assured her. He looked as though he could carry a mountain troll under each arm, so she believed him.

They walked up to the castle together. "So how have you been?" Minerva asked to make some polite conversation.

"I'm great. Thanks fer askin'," Hagrid replied cheerfully.

"Then you like being the gamekeeper here?" She had always meant to ask him that, but she had never got the chance. Probably because when they had met in the Forbidden Forest, they had been too busy trying not to die to really talk. And after that, she had stayed far away.

Perhaps that was why Hagrid seemed so eager to keep her company now. He could still be under the impression that she blamed him for what had happened all those years ago. "Assistant, really. But I love it. Wouldn't wanna be anywhere else. Not that I knew where ter go. It was awfully nice of Professor Dumbledore ter fight fer me to be allowed ter stay."

"Yes, he's a great man to have in your corner," Minerva nodded.

"Right, you'd know that. He taught yeh to become an Animagus." Hagrid grinned. "An' now you're gonna do the teachin'. Funny, eh?"

"Quite," Minerva said thoughtfully. "So how is your arachnoid friend?" she asked to change the subject.

Hagrid almost dropped her suitcase in surprise. "Wha'? How'd yeh know about Aragog?"

"I didn't really, but you just told me." Minerva shook her head in disbelief. "Goodness gracious, it even has a name?" She had only had her suspicions before and she wasn't entirely sure if she had actually wanted to know that they were true.

"'Course, he's got a name. Everybody ought ter have a name, don't they?" Hagrid replied a little gruffly, which reminded Minerva of something Dumbledore had said to her once about the forest being a well-deserved home for many creatures.

Even years later she felt chastised. "Of course, I didn't mean to insult you or your friend. I'm sorry."

Her apology seemed to throw Hagrid completely. "Ah, that's no... There's no need fer yeh ter apologise ter me. You bein' a teacher an' all that."

"Hagrid, I haven't even started working here yet and even if I had, it wouldn't matter. You deserve as much respect as any other member of staff," Minerva told him.

Hagrid scratched his head at first, but then he grinned broadly, which, considering the size of his face, was rather impressive. "Thanks fer sayin' that! Yer goin' ter be a fine teacher, I can tell. If yeh ever need anythin' or wanna have a cup o' tea or somethin', come by my cabin anytime," he offered.

Then he seemed embarrassed and put down her luggage. They had almost reached the entrance to the castle. "Anyway, have a good firs' term!"

"Thank you, Hagrid," said Minerva and watched him walk away in the direction of the forest. He was a peculiar man, but he had such a gentle nature that Minerva understood why Dumbledore had defended him.

Now that Hagrid was gone, she pointed her wand at her suitcase and made it rise into the air and follow her.

She climbed the stairs towards the front door and stopped on the topmost step to take in the view of the surrounding hills and the glittering lake. She took in a deep breath of Scottish summer air. "Oh yes, I've definitely missed this," she muttered.

"I daresay it has missed you, too."

Minerva whirled around, and after her initial surprise her face split into a smile. "I see you're still sneaking up on people, Professor," she said to Dumbledore by way of a greeting.

"Or you were simply too – understandably – distracted to pay attention, Professor," he replied cheerfully.

She almost looked over her shoulder to see who he was addressing until she realised that it was her. She was a professor now! Apparently, she just wasn't prepared to hear it yet.

Dumbledore noticed her fleeting moment of confusion and said, "I figured we were being formal today since you're still calling me 'Professor.'"

"What should I be calling you?" Minerva asked. It was strange. She felt almost as insecure as she had on her first day at school.

"Well, I happen to have four names for you to choose from, though I usually respond best to Albus," Dumbledore quipped.

It was an offer Minerva would have jumped on instantly when she had been younger and so very eager to prove herself – of what or to whom, she couldn't even say anymore. Now she was hesitant to proclaim herself his equal by using his Christian name. "That... will take some getting used to," she said honestly.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Fair enough." He stepped aside to allow her to enter.

He hadn't changed much. There was still that familiar twinkle in his bright blue eyes. His auburn hair was perhaps a little longer, but they were still on holiday, so perhaps he simply hadn't cut it yet. He was wearing everyday robes, which reminded Minerva that this wasn't an interview situation. She already had the job, as surreal as that was. All it had taken was an owl and the bare minimum of hours for a flight to Hogwarts and back.

"The headmaster was forced to extend his trip, but he's looking forward to meeting with you upon his return by the end of the week," Dumbledore informed her. "Until then, I'll do my best to make up for his absence. Also, there's some work for us to do before the start of term."

"Of course. I just need to drop off my luggage."

"Oh, I didn't mean right this instant. I'm sure you'd like to get settled first," Dumbledore offered. "I trust that you had a pleasant journey?"

"Well, it was short." She had packed up her flat and Disapparated. There had been nothing sentimental about saying goodbye to London. Saying goodbye to Elphinstone and telling him that she had decided to quit had been a little more difficult. But he had understood in the end.

"Still not one for small talk, I see," Dumbledore said with a soft smile on his lips.

"Small talk is nothing more than a substitute to hide the absence of more stimulating conversation," Minerva replied.

Dumbledore laughed. "Then I guess I better come up with something meaningful to say."

"I've never known you to have any difficulty with that."

"That might be because it takes two equally sharp minds to carry on such a conversation."

Minerva tried not to linger on that compliment for too long. She was here for a job, not to chat, though it made her smile unexpectedly. "For now, I would be willing to settle for directions."

She might have forgotten some of her shortcuts, but she still remembered most of Hogwarts Castle. She didn't know where she was going to live, though. Certainly not up in Gryffindor Tower.

"Of course, right this way." Dumbledore indicated to her that she should proceed towards the grand staircase. Then he fell into step beside her and guided her towards a door on the first-floor corridor. "Here we are. Your office, Professor." He winked at her when he opened the door and stepped back to let her enter first.

Still trailed by her suitcase, Minerva walked into the room. As far as she knew, it had been empty during her time at school, but to her surprise it didn't look abandoned at all. On the large desk by the window sat a beautiful writing quill, made from a pheasant feather, next to a piece of parchment that was probably her contract. A fire was crackling merrily in the fireplace, which, considering the temperature outside, wouldn't have been necessary, but it made the room more welcoming. The set of armchairs in front of it had been dusted and on the table between them stood a chessboard.

Her eyebrows raised, Minerva looked from the game to Dumbledore. "What's this?"

"Consider it a welcoming present. It's not every day that Hogwarts Castle gets to welcome home one of its best students."

Somehow Minerva doubted that the castle – or even its headmaster – knew about her fondness for chess. But she appreciated the gesture because she had actually given her old Wizard's Chess set to Malcolm. This entire room spoke of a thoughtfulness that almost made her tear up. Quickly, she turned away from Dumbledore.

"You may change whatever you like," he continued pleasantly as if to give her time to collect herself. "If you're interested in Extension Charms you should talk to Horace. As you know, he's become somewhat of an expert. Though he might be less than pleased, should you intend to throw parties rival to his own."

Minerva couldn't hold back a snort of disbelief. "If I have ever given you the impression that I'm a party person, I must have done something very wrong."

Dumbledore's lips twitched. "It's been a few years. I didn't want to assume. After all, they could be throwing the most fabulous parties at the Ministry. I wouldn't know since I try to keep the length of my visits to a minimum."

"You haven't missed much," Minerva said drily. She let her eyes sweep the room again. They landed on a portrait of a regal-looking woman. Minerva knew without a doubt that this was the hidden entrance to her living quarters.

"This wasn't here before, was it?" she asked.

"No, I believe its previous home was in a corridor on the fifth floor. I walked past it by accident the other day, looking for a bathroom, and I thought it would be rather fitting. It's a portrait of…"

"... Mary, Queen of Scots," Minerva finished his sentence.

Dumbledore smiled in confirmation, and Minerva felt as embarrassed as Hagrid had done earlier. She didn't deserve all this special attention.

She locked eyes with the Scottish queen and without a word, the painting swung open to reveal a hidden door. It looked as though the office was meant to double as a sitting room because all she found behind that door was a sparse, stone-floored bedroom and an en-suite bathroom.

"It's not much, I'm afraid," Dumbledore said from the other side of the doorway. Perhaps he thought that now that this was her bedroom, it wasn't appropriate for him to follow her inside.

Also, there wasn't much to see. But the late afternoon sun that filtered through the window did its best to keep out the cold. And that was all Minerva needed, knowing that the castle would provide her with the rest. She directed her luggage to drop down next to the bed.

"It's more than enough," she said.

"Excellent. I shall leave you to unpack and settle in then," Dumbledore said. "We can discuss the teaching schedule tomorrow morning. I will meet you in the staffroom."

Minerva nodded. "Thank you," she added. "For the warm welcome."

Dumbledore merely smiled. "Have a nice evening. And make sure to remember your dreams tonight. I hear whatever one dreams the first night in a new home has been known to have prophetic properties."

"Prophecies, really?"

"Ah, you're a teacher now. You'll have to be a little more diplomatic when it comes to your, shall we say, disinclination towards certain branches of magic."

"What if I dream that I will die a very painful death before the end of my first term here?" Minerva challenged him.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Do you often dream of your impending demise?"

"It wasn't altogether unlikely in my previous line of work," Minerva said with a shrug of her shoulders. Plus, there were dreams, beautiful dreams, that could hurt a lot more than a nightmare.

"But you're back in Hogwarts now, so I think you can exchange those dreams for something a little more cheerful," Dumbledore suggested before he turned to leave.

"Fine, what was yours then?" Minerva called after him.

Dumbledore paused. "What did I dream my first night here? Why, of course, I dreamt that I'd be eating lots of pudding."

With that answer he left her behind to shake her head. She had forgotten how eccentric he could be. But her lips were curled up into a smile when she started unpacking.

It didn't take her very long. Minerva had never felt truly at home in London, so her flat hadn't been filled with many personal items. It was mostly just books and clothes and a few pictures. A hand-woven bedspread in Gryffindor colours was the only truly decorative item. It brightened the place up significantly. After all, Minerva wasn't above showing some house pride, though she supposed she would have to watch herself now that she was a teacher.

The last thing she unpacked were the letters from Dougal. They weren't real letters actually, more like notes, since they had practically seen each other every day. But on the rare occasions when they hadn't been able to, Dougal had dropped these off at the manse for her, counting the hours until they would see each other again.

She had thought about throwing them out a million times, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. They were nothing but a painful reminder now. Still, it was better to keep these letters locked away under her bed than her wand.

Right?

There was no answer. She was just as alone in this new bedroom as she had been in London. But she wasn't in London anymore. She was home. So instead of dwelling on the box with letters, Minerva grabbed a cloak and took a long walk around the lake.

It didn't chase all of the ghosts away, but the fresh air lifted her spirits and cleared her head. She had tomorrow to look forward to. She was a little nervous but excited to focus on her new teaching career and to start discussing the basics with Dumbledore. It was daunting to have to start all over again, but she could use the challenge. It wasn't as though Dumbledore had ever steered her wrong.

Tired from her walk and her swirling thoughts, Minerva went to bed early.

For whatever it was worth, she didn't dream that she was going to die. Although she was surrounded by flames in her dream. But strangely, they didn't burn her because they weren't ordinary flames. It wasn't even real fire.

It was phoenix fire.

A/N: And we're back at Hogwarts! I wanted to show what happened to Minerva after her graduation, but I couldn't keep her away from Albus for too long. I missed writing the two of them together. I'm guessing you don't mind. :) As always, thanks for your really wonderful reviews. Every single one makes me so happy.